On the radar: Pirates-Mustangs pits top two LSV squads in 6A-4A

Thursday

Sep 6, 2018 at 4:54 PM

Lubbock-Cooper at Coronado

Two of the area's most successful Class 5A programs in recent years will get together for a non-district game Friday. Coronado got its season going with an impressive win against Estacado last week in one of the most anticipated games of the entire season, while Cooper jumped on Andrews early but needed a field goal in the last minute to avoid a major letdown loss. The two teams are No. 1 and No. 2 in the Lone Star Varsity Class 6A-4A rankings with the Mustangs owning the edge.

Westerners coach Shane Stephen doesn't think it's a coincidence his team got invited to play Borger in Week 2. The Bulldogs are opening their brand-new stadium Friday, and both teams will try to put season-opening losses in the past, of which Lubbock High had the better. Senior quarterback Noah Gutierrez had a strong debut last week in spite of a 21-7 loss to Seminole. He's in the area's top 10 in passing yardage and a capable runner.

The Abernathy and Sundown series helped decide a district championship the past two years, but it'll just be a great non-district game this year with the Antelopes moving onto Class 3A Division II. Abernathy quarterback Bryson Daily and Sundown signal caller Christian Huey have been linked at the hip through their careers, including serving as co-Hitters of the Year on the most recent Lone Star Varsity Baseball Super Team. Daily had a big junior debut with 191 rushing yards on 10 carries in an easy win against River Road while Huey led the Roughnecks to a similar victory versus Wink.

Friday's game pits two of the preseason Lone Star Varsity Super Team quarterbacks in Shallowater's Cutter Sparks and Levelland's Chris Gerber. Sparks prevailed in last season's meeting, a 35-20 win at Lobo Stadium. Levelland should have some momentum off last week's 36-0 win at Plainview. The Lobos have the most area players on the current football statistics leader board with eight.

The Duane Toliver era at Brownfield started off with a big win against Post and Slaton sustained momentum from last season under first-year coach Jeff Caffey in victory against Sanford-Fritch. Now the two Class 3A Division I programs will go head-to-head in what could be a bi-district playoff preview.